Jet Regulator

ABSTRACT

A jet regulator ( 1 ) having a jet fractionating device ( 2 ) which distributes the incoming water flow into a plurality of individual jets is provided. The jet regulator ( 1 ) has at least one individual jet, from the individual jets formed by the fractionating device, which impacts on a node point ( 3 ) of a criss-crossing grid of bars ( 4, 5 ) of an outlet side downstream grid network ( 6 ). At least one node point ( 3 ) is configured as an inlet side recess of the grid network ( 6 ) and/or the jet regulator is an aerated jet regulator having a jet regulator housing ( 7 ) which includes at least one aeration opening ( 8 ) on a periphery of the housing thereof and at least one reflection projection ( 9 ) which is used to maintain the water jet at a distance from the aeration opening that is arranged on the inner periphery of the housing in the direction of flow below the at least one aeration opening ( 8 ). The jet regulator ( 1 ) provides an improved fractionating of the incoming individual jets.

The invention relates to a jet regulator with a jet fractionatingdevice, which distributes the incoming water flow into a plurality ofindividual jets.

From DE 30 00 799 a jet regulator is already known, which is providedwith a jet fractionating device embodied as a perforated plate. This jetfractionating device of the previously known jet regulator distributesthe incoming water flow into a plurality of individual jets. Theindividual jets formed in the jet fractionating device impinge severalsubsequent metal sieves of a homogenization device downstream, whichreturn the individual jets back into one homogenous, bubbling combinedjet.

From WO 2004/033807 A1 an aerated jet regulator with a jet fractionatingdevice is already known, which distributes the incoming water flow intoa multitude of individual jets. Here, the jet fractionating device isaligned such that the individual jets each impinge a nodal point ofcriss-cross grid bars of a grid network arranged downstream. In order toaerate the individual jets several aeration openings are provided at thehousing perimeter of the jet regulator housing. The air necessary toaerate the water jet can be suctioned in through the aeration openings.However, this bears the risk that the air suction and thus the dulyfunctioning of the previously known jet regulators are compromised bythe passing swirled water jet.

The objective is to provide a jet regulator of the type noted at theoutset, that can be produced with relatively little expense, which ischaracterized in improved and/or further distributed incoming individualjets.

The solution of this object according to the invention is described inthe independent claim 1.

In the jet regulator according to the invention at least one of theindividual jets formed in the jet fractionating device impinges a nodalpoint of individually crossing grid bars of a grid network arrangeddownstream. Due to the fact that at least some of the individual jetscoming from the jet fractionating device impinge a nodal point formed bythe criss-crossing grid bars another multi-axial jet fractionation ofeach individual jet occurs in this area.

When the nodal points each are embodied as recesses at the inflowingside of the preferably plate-shaped grid network, here another secondaryfractionating of the individual jets occurs. Namely, the individual jetsare not only distributed in the axial direction, rather an additionalradial fractionating of the individual jets occurs at the axial wallslimiting the recesses of the jet regulator according to the invention.This way, in this area a fractionating of the individual jets is furtherpromoted, with an undesired excessive swirling of the individual jetsimpinging the nodal points being avoided.

Additionally or instead thereof the jet regulator may also be embodiedas an aerated jet regulator with its jet regulator housing beingprovided at its exterior perimeter with at least one aerating openingand at the interior housing circumference, in the flow directiondownstream of at least one aeration opening, with a reflectionprojection to keep the eddied water jets, i.e. those deflected by theaxial walls limiting the recesses, away from the aeration opening. Theair necessary for aerating the water jet can be suctioned in through theaeration openings provided at the housing perimeter of the jet regulatorhousing. In order for this air intake not to interfere with the passingswirled water jet, a reflection projection is provided at the interiorhousing circumference of the jet regulator according to the invention inthe flow direction downstream of at least one aeration opening. Thisreflection projection keeps the swirled water jet flowing through theinterior of the housing of the jet regulator away from the aerationopenings.

Here, it is advantageous for the grid network to be embodiedplate-shaped.

It is advantageous for the grid bars, at the upstream side, to be atleast rounded or chamfered in sections at the side of the longitudinaledge in the area of some of its nodal points. Due to the fact that inthis embodiment the grid bars are rounded or chamfered at the upstreamside at least in the area of the nodal points at both sides of thelongitudinal edges, an excessive swirling of the individual jets isavoided and the formation of a homogenous, bubbling water jet isimproved.

Here, a preferred embodiment according to the invention provides for thegrid bars to be chamfered at the upstream side like a gabled roof in anarea of their nodal points.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for therecesses of the grid network at the upstream side to be embodied likehollow cylinders.

In order to allow a good aeration of the water jet over its entirecross-section it is advantageous for the jet regulator housing to beprovided with several aeration openings distributed in thecircumferential direction.

The jet regulator according to the invention may be provided with one ormore reflection projections, which are each provided in the area of anaeration opening. However, it is beneficial when the reflectionprojection circles the interior circumference of the housing in acircular shape. Here, the reflecting projection may be shaped like aflange and, in particular at its flat sides facing to and/or away fromthe water flow, be arranged in reference to each other in approximatelyparallel cross-sectional levels.

However it is particularly advantageous when the reflecting projectionon the side facing away from the aeration opening in the flow direction,has an expanded angled deflection surface. By the angled deflectionsurface expanding in the flow direction, a water jet swirled in theinterior of the housing is guided away from the aeration openingsprovided at the housing perimeter towards the longitudinal axis of thehousing.

In order to modularly provide the jet regulator according to theinvention it is advantageous that the grid network can be inserted intothe housing as a separate part. Thus, the jet regulator can optionallybe provided with or without the grid network embodied according to theinvention.

For the modular design of the jet regulator according to the inventionit is advantageous when the grid network is followed downstream by atleast one additional part of a homogenization device and/or a flowhomogenizer that can be inserted into the housing.

Further embodiments according to the invention are discernible from theclaims as well as the drawing. In the following, the invention isexplained in greater detail using an exemplary embodiment.

Shown are:

FIG. 1 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a jet regulator having ajet fractionating device embodied as a perforated plate, which in theflow direction downstream is followed by a plate-shaped grid networkwith criss-crossing grid bars.

FIG. 2 a perspective view of the grid network of the jet regulator ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 a top view at the upstream side of the grid network of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the grid network of FIGS.2 and 3,

FIG. 5 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a jet regulator of similarfunction as in FIG. 1 and also aerated, which is provided in the area ofits aeration openings with a flange-like embodied and circularlyextending reflection projection,

FIG. 6 a perspective view of the grid network of the jet regulator shownin FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 a top view at the incoming side of the grid network of FIG. 6 ina top view, and

FIG. 8 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the grid network of FIGS.6 and 7.

In both FIGS. 1 and 5 a jet regulator 1 is shown, which has a jetfractionating device comprised of a perforated plate 2, whichdistributes the incoming water jet into a multitude of individual jets.From FIGS. 1 and 5 it is discernible that the individual jets formed inthe jet fractionating device 2 each impinge a nodal point 3 ofcriss-crossing grid bars 4, 5 of a grid network 6 arranged downstream.Here, the grid bars 4 are formed as radial bars and the grid bars 5 asconcentric circular walls. In the area of the nodal points 3, anothermulti-axis fractionating of the individual incoming jets occurs.

From a comparison of FIGS. 1 through 3 and/or FIGS. 5 through 7 it isdiscernible that the grid bars 4, 5 in the area of their nodal points 3are chamfered at both sides of the longitudinal edges. In the exemplaryembodiment shown here, the grid bars 4, 5 are chamfered in the area oftheir nodal points 3 at the incoming side in the form of a gabled roof.Due to the fact that grid bars 4, 5 are chamfered or rounded in thisarea, an excessive undesired swirling of the individual jets coming fromthe jet fractionating device 2 is avoided and the formation of ahomogenous, bubbling combined jet in the jet regulator 1 is promoted.

In FIGS. 1 through 4 and FIGS. 5 through 8 it is shown that the nodalpoints 3 are each embodied as recesses of the preferably plate-shapedgrid network 6 at the incoming side. Here, the recesses of the gridnetwork 6 at the incoming side are formed as hollow cylinders. Due tothe fact that the nodal points 3 are embodied as recesses of theplate-shaped grid network 6 these recesses are limited by theneighboring grid bars 4, 5. In the nodal points 3 embodied as recessesof the grid network 6, another secondary distributing of the individualjets inflowing from the perforated plate 2 occurs, because the water jetdistributed in the nodal points along the gabled-roof lines at the endof the recess impinges the wall arranged approximately perpendicular inreference to the gable-roof line wall limiting the recess. In thismanner, the jet is fractionated once more and slowed down. The jetregulator 1 shown here is therefore characterized in highly fractionatedincoming individual jets with an undesired swirling of these individualjets in the interior of the housing of the jet regulator 1 beingavoided.

From FIGS. 1 and 5 it is discernible that the jet regulator 1 shown hereis an aerated jet regulator. The jet regulator 1 is provided with a jetregulator housing 7, which has several aeration openings 8 at itshousing perimeter, evenly distanced from each other in thecircumferential direction. With the help of the water flowing throughthe housing interior of the jet regulator 1, air can be suctioned intothe interior of the housing, through the aerating openings 8, which isthen used to aerate the water jet.

Comparing FIGS. 1 and 4 and/or FIGS. 5 and 8 it becomes clear that atthe interior circumference of the housing, in the flow directiondownstream in reference to the aeration openings 8, a reflectionprojection 9 is provided. This reflection projection 9 encircles thegrid network 6 in a circular fashion. In FIGS. 1 and 4 it is discerniblethat the circular reflection projection 9 at its side facing away fromthe aeration openings 8 in the flow direction is provided with an angleddeflection surface 10, which is expanded in the flow direction. However,the reflection projection 9, here also encircling in a circular fashion,is embodied as a flange in the jet regulator 1 shown in FIGS. 5 through8, with its flange sides facing towards and/or away from the water flowbeing arranged in approximately parallel cross-sectional levels inreference to each other. By the reflection projection 9, the water jetto be aerated can be kept at a distance from the aeration openings 8that open in the interior of the housing. Here, the swirled water jetsare guided away from the aeration openings 8 in the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the jet regulator housing 7 with the help of thereflection projection 9 and particularly with the angled deflectionsurface 10.

When comparing FIGS. 1 through 4 as well as FIGS. 5 through 8 it isdiscernible that the grid network 6 is provided as a separateplate-shaped part. The grid network 6 provided as a separate part can beinserted into the jet regulator housing 7 in a detachable manner. Here,the grid network 6 is followed by another part 13 of the homogenizationdevice that can be inserted into the housing 7. The part 13, also formedin a plate-shaped manner, is provided with several circular walls 14,each of which are arranged in the extension between two nodal points 3of the grid network 6.

The part 13 is followed by a jet homogenizer 15, which forms the face ofthe jet regulator 1 at the downstream side. The jet homogenizer 15 ofthe jet regulator 1, shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and/or FIGS. 5 through8, is also provided with circular walls 16, which are arranged in theextension of the circular walls 15 of the part 13 and therefore have aslightly smaller wall thickness in reference thereto. The circular walls16 of the flow homogenizer 15 are rounded at their down-stream narrowedge in order to promote the formation of a homogenous overall jet. Forthe same purpose a circularly extending housing constriction 17 isprovided in the flow homogenizer 15 at the down-stream side of thehousing edge.

From FIG. 1 it is discernible that the jet regulator housing 7 of thejet regulator 1 is essentially provided in two parts. The jet regulatorhousing 7, divided into a separating level aligned perpendicularly inreference to the flow direction, is provided with a housing part 18, 19at the incoming and the outflowing side, which can engage each other ina detachable manner, but which also may be connected to each otheradditionally by sealing, welding or the like.

In FIGS. 1 and 5 it is shown that the jet regulators 1, at the incomingside, are essentially provided upstream with a cone-shaped preliminarysieve, which separates the dirt particles entrained and keeps them fromthe jet regulators 1. At the inflowing side of the jet regulator housing7 the preliminary sieve 20 can be snapped to the face of the housing ina detachable manner.

1. A jet regulator (1) comprising a jet fractionating device (2) fordispersing an incoming water flow into a multitude of individual jets,of which at least one of the individual jets impinges at least one nodalpoint (3) of criss-crossing grid bars (4, 5) of a downstream arrangedgrid network (6) that is provided as a separate construction part in ajet regulator housing of the jet regulator, with the at least one nodalpoint (3) comprising a recess of the grid network (6) at an incomingside thereof, and the jet regulator (1) being an aerated jet regulator(1) with the jet regulator housing (7) being provided at a housingperimeter with a plurality of circumferentially separated aerationopenings (8) and at an interior housing circumference in a flowdirection below the aeration openings, a plurality of reflectionprojections are located to keep the water jets away from the aerationopenings (8), the reflection projections extend encircling an innercircumference of an outer wall of the separately constructed gridnetwork (6).
 2. A jet regulator according to claim 1, wherein the gridnetwork is plate-shaped.
 3. A jet regulator according to claim 1,wherein the at least one nodal point comprises nodal points and the gridbars (4, 5) at the incoming side are rounded or chamfered at least in anarea of some of the nodal points (3) and/or at a longitudinal side.
 4. Ajet regulator according to claim 3, wherein the grid bars (4, 5) in thearea of the nodal points (3) are chamfered in the form of gabled roofsat the incoming side.
 5. A jet regulator according to claim 3, whereinthe nodal points comprise recesses of the grid network (6) having a formof hollow cylinders at the incoming side.
 6. A jet regulator accordingto claim 1, wherein the reflection projections are provided with anextended angled deflection surface (10) at a side thereof in a flowdirection facing away from the aeration openings.
 7. A jet regulatoraccording to claim 1, wherein the grid network (6) is at least followeddownstream by one additional part (13) that can be inserted into thehousing (7) comprising a homogenization device and/or a flowhomogenizer.
 8. A jet regulator (1) comprising a jet fractionatingdevice (2) for dispersing an incoming water flow into a multitude ofindividual jets, of which at least one of the individual jets impingesat least one nodal point (3) of criss-crossing grid bars (4, 5) of adownstream arranged grid network (6) that is provided as a separateconstruction part in a jet regulator housing of the jet regulator, withthe at least one nodal point (3) comprising a recess of the grid network(6) at an incoming side thereof.